Prosecutor: Report Would End Ohio Death Penalty

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien says recommendations proposed by a statewide capital punishment review committee would end the death penalty in Ohio if put in place.(Photo: http://prosecutor.franklincountyohio.gov/)

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien says recommendations proposed by a statewide capital punishment review committee would end the death penalty in Ohio if put in place.(Photo: http://prosecutor.franklincountyohio.gov/)

A veteran prosecutor is criticizing recommendations proposed by a statewide capital punishment review committee, saying many of them would end the death penalty in Ohio if put in place.

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien, a committee member, says the recommendations would restrict the law so much it would be impossible to execute someone like Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.

The committee convened by Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor was meeting Thursday to review its final report and 56 total recommendations.

O’Brien, a Republican, said a minority of members on the committee – many of them prosecutors – planned to submit a dissenting report next week.

State Public Defender Tim Young says the recommendations would narrow but not end capital punishment, reserving it for the worst criminals.

Prospective Ohio drivers would see added training requirements and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles would be allowed to accept credit and debit cards under a state transportation budget that easily cleared the Ohio House on Tuesday.